Plateau killings: Military moves tactical HQ to Mangu, launches ‘Operation Hard Nut’

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…Deploys additional troops, equipment to troubled communities

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By Golok Nanmwa

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JOS — The Joint Security Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), has relocated its tactical headquarters from Jos to Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State following a recent surge in insecurity in the area.

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The move followed a series of security breaches in Mangu, including the deadly attack on Bin-Per community in Kombun District, which reportedly claimed more than 25 lives.

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Commander of Operation Enduring Peace and General Officer Commanding, 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Williams Maxwell Dangana, disclosed the development while addressing troops deployed in Mangu on Wednesday.

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Dangana said the relocation of the tactical headquarters would enable the military leadership to maintain direct and real-time oversight of the security situation and facilitate a faster response to emerging threats.

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He said the deployment had also been reinforced with additional troops, equipment and other operational resources to strengthen security across the affected communities.

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“My being here is not just in person. I am here with a lot of enablers, additional manpower, and all the resources that are required,” the GOC said.

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He added that the Chief of Army Staff had provided the necessary logistics to enable the troops to effectively carry out the operation.

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Dangana also announced the commencement of “Operation Hard Nut,” a military operation aimed at dismantling armed criminal networks, clearing identified hostile areas and restoring peace across Mangu and other vulnerable communities.

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The GOC assured residents that troops would remain in the area to sustain offensive operations and protect lives and property.

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He charged the troops to remain professional, resolute and decisive in confronting threats, while urging them to maintain close cooperation with other security agencies and residents.

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The latest military action comes amid heightened security concerns in Mangu following the attack on Bin-Per community, where more than 25 people were reportedly killed and several others injured.

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The attack also resulted in the destruction of houses and farmlands, further worsening the hardship faced by residents, many of whom depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

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